United Nations Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator in Syria, Imran Riza, and Regional Humanitarian Coordinator for the Syria Crisis, Muhannad Hadi Joint Statement on Civilian Casualties in Al Atareb and Aleppo City, 22 March 2021

United Nations

الأمم المتحدة

Nations Unies

United Nations Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator in Syria,

Imran Riza, and Regional Humanitarian Coordinator for the Syria Crisis,

Muhannad Hadi Joint Statement on

Civilian Casualties in Al Atareb and Aleppo City

Syria

Damascus and Amman, 22 March 2021

The United Nations Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator for Syria, Mr.

Imran Riza, and the Regional Humanitarian Coordinator for the Syria Crisis, Mr.

Muhannad Hadi, strongly condemn the artillery shelling that caused significant civilian

casualties on 21 March.

Artillery shells hit the Al Atareb Surgical Hospital (also known as Al Maghara Hospital).

in Aleppo governorate. The incident has reportedly resulted in at least six deaths among

patients and visitors, including a ten-year-old boy, and injured 16 civilians, including five

medical staff. The hospital also sustained major damage, including to the orthopedic and

emergency clinics.

Civilian casualties have also been reported on 21 March in the neighbourhoods of Al

Firdous and Al Saliheen in Aleppo City, as a result of artillery shelling. Reports indicate

that two were killed and 17 people have been injured, including two children.

Mr. Riza and Mr. Hadi condemn these incidents and pass on the deepest of condolences

to the families of all those who were killed or injured. Syria has been a dangerous place

for all civilians, including humanitarian aid and health workers. Attacks on hospitals have

seriously impeded access and the right to health, depriving life-saving care to civilians.

Mr. Riza and Mr. Hadi call on the parties to the conflict to respect the special protection

afforded to hospitals as well as the prohibition of indiscriminate attacks, and their

obligation to take all feasible precautions under international humanitarian law to ensure

the protection of civilians.

For further information:

Danielle Moylan, Spokesperson OCHA Syria, [email protected]

Torsten Flyng, Strategic Communications Officer OCHA Regional Office for the Syrian Crisis.

[email protected]